iOS 7

If you felt like the Apple Touch ID sensor in the iPhone 5s wasn't enough, that you'd like so much security in your Apple products that it's easier to get locked out than get in, you're in luck. There's a set of patent applications out there this week that show how Apple's Touch ID system could work with touchpad and display abilities in the near future. With these systems in place, Apple would be looking to incorporate multiple pieces of hardware and/or multiple use-cases of the hardware already in place into the secure system they've started with the phone.

The folks at Honda have made it known that they’ll be first off the blocks in the 2014 Civic with full iOS mirroring for iOS 7. This push will begin on the 4th of December, and will include full touch-friendly integration with the vehicle’s 7-inch touchscreen on its center console. The features here will be launched with the 2014 Civic Coupe right out the gate when it goes on sale next month.

Dropbox has rolled out a redesign for the iPad and iPhone, something it says was inspired by the latest iteration of Apple's mobile operating system, iOS 7. The design is simplified extensively, and is pretty streamlined in appearance, with a lot of contrast in the elements and a lot of white space. The update is available now from the Apple App Store.

Microsoft has added automatic photo upload to its SkyDrive app for iOS, with the new Camera Backup feature pushing shots directly to the cloud once they're snapped. The updated SkyDrive iOS app makes Camera Backup an option, naturally, and the uploads can be set to take place over WiFi and cellular data, or only when you've got a WiFi connection. It's not the only tweak to the software, either.

The iPhone has already propelled casual gaming into one of the biggest app segments in the industry: now, with iOS 7 and the Logitech PowerShell gamepad, those apps are getting the controller they've been crying out for. Building on the new MFI ("Made For iPhone") controller profile that's part of iOS 7, the $99.99 pad offers a familiar set of controls to clip around an iPhone or iPod touch, as well as a backup battery good for roughly a full charge. We grabbed some hands-on time ahead of the launch; read on for our first impressions.

Fear not, all you users looking for another update to iOS 7 nary a month after you've seen the first, there's an iOS 7.1 coming your way sooner than later. This week there's an iOS 7.1 beta appearing for developers only, looking to see prime-time for the rest of the world likely before the month is finished (if precedence leads us in the right direction).

It's the iPad mini we've been waiting for: Apple's smaller tablet that, thanks to a Retina display and brand new A7 processor, now punches above its size and makes a legitimate alternative not only for compact-screen Android and Windows rivals, but Apple's own iPad Air too. That Apple has achieved all that with minimal compromises on weight and battery life seems almost too good to be true: could the iPad mini with Retina display be the best tablet in the range? Read on for our full review.

Supposing you're aiming to purchase a Retina iPad mini and you don't want to wait for it to be shipped to your home this week after digital sales started this morning. Did you know that you've got the option to head to an Apple store to pick the device up? The only kink in this particular machine is the fact that not every Apple store has the retina iPad mini in stock - it would seem that the majority of the stores across the United States today are without stock at the moment.

There’s a brand new bit of firmware and software needed for the newest update in Pebble’s smartwatch experience were released this afternoon in full. These updates for the watch and the iPhone bring the Pebble environment up to the place that was explained earlier this month, full iOS 7 notifications and all. Users will be able to receive notifications from this point forward from Facebook, Google+, Flickr, Flipboard, and more, straight through Pebble’s full integration with Notification Center in iOS 7.

Supposing you’re in a situation where you’d love to work with Apple’s OS X desktop operating system, but for whatever reason you’d rather not - or cannot - work with an Apple-made piece of hardware. If you’re the alternate-solutions type, there may be hope for you with the Linux Ubuntu-based system called Pear OS. The newest version of Pear OS - that’s Pear OS 8 - works with a look and feel that’s very much the most solidly cross-breed inspired iOS/OS X system out in the wild today - again, working with Unbuntu, but certainly appearing to bust out an alternate-universe Apple system by all looks and touches.